Electric plug connecter



, May 10, 1932. H. H. WERMINE. 1,858,197

ELECTRIC PLUG CONNECTER Filed March 15, 1928 Patented May 10, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A,

HUGO H. WERMINE, OF VILLA PARK,ILLINOIS, ASSIGN '10 BELIDEN MANUFACTUR-ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ELECTRICPLUG YCONNEGIEB This invention relates to electric plug connecters andparticularly to a portable separable plug connecter such as is used forconnecting an electrical device to an electric current supply line.

One object of the invention is to provide a practically unbreakableconnecter plug of simple construction which can be economicallymanufactured at a low cost. Another object is to provide a connecter ofthe above described type which formed of but a few parts of relativelysimple constriwtion and which may be easily assembled to form thecomplete plug. Still another object of this invention is to providemeans in a plug connccter of the type above mentioned for preventingdisplacement of the contact elements, and to prevent accidental shortcircuits within the connecter plug.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a connector plugin which the connections between the conducters and contacts areentirely enclosed within the plug. Further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent by reference to the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which drawings I haveillustrated my invention as applied to a male plug connecter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the front end .of the connecter.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through the main body portion of the plug andcorresponds to the section shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a step in the assembly of the connectorplug.

Fig. 7 is an elevation on an enlarged scale scale on of an element ofthe plug, and

Fig. 8 is asection on the line 8--8 of Fig.7.

Referring now to the drawings, my improved electric plug connectorincludes a main body member 10 eferably of resilient insulating materialsudhas' rubber, a closure plug 11 also preferably of rubber, and a pairof contact prongs 12 and 13. The main body member 10 is preferablyformed with an enlarged front end portion 14 and an elon ated shankportion 15, through which hea and shank portions an aperture 16 extends.The front end of the aperture 16 is preferably enlarged as at 17 so asto provide a forwardly facing annular seat 18. The wall 19 of theenlarged portion 17 of the aperture is preferably undercut as shown at20 so as to provide an annular shoulder 21 adjacent the front end of thebody member, the front end of the shoulder 21 being preferably beveledas shown at 22 for a purpose which will presently appear.

T 1e parallel inner end portions of the contact prongs 12 and 13respectively fit in long narrow parallel recesses 24 and 25 provided inthe front end portion of the body member 10. The recesses 24 and 25 arelocated in the seat 18 and are preferably spaced radially outwardly awayfrom the aperture 16 and are disposed substantially diammetricallyopposite each other. Portions 26 and 27 of the body member are disposedintermediate the aperture 16 and the respective receses, and t weportions are notched as shown at 28 and 29 for facilitating connectionof electricconductors to the respective contact prongs. Each of thecontactprongs is preferably provided with means in the form of screws 30and 31 having relatively large heads and threaded into the respectivecontact members so that the ends of the conductors 32 and 33 may beclamped against the contact prongs.

The portions of the conductors 32 and 33 adjacent the respective contactprongs extend through the notches 28 and 29 so that the conductors maybe connected to the prongs without sharply bending the former. Theconductors are preferably enclosed in a tubular casin or sheathing 34 ofweatherproof insulating material such as rubber, thereby forming a dulex conductor cord and the same is preferab y built up so as to besubstantially round in cross section, so that the aperture 16 in thebody member will be practically filled by the cord. The thin wallortions 26 and 27 are supported or reinorced by the interposed endportions of the duplex cord. The shank 15 may be provided adjacent itsouter or rear end with an annular inwardly pro'ecting shoulder 35, whichshoulder will be e active to fit snugly about the duplex cord and serveto produce a practically weatherproof joint between the rear end of theshank and the cord.

The closure plug 11 is made to fit snugly within the enlarged portion 20ofthe aperture in the body member, the sides 'of the plug being taperedso as to form an enlarged end portion 36 which will fit behind theannular shoulder 21 of the body member so that the plug or closure isinterlocked with the body member. Thus, the parts are locked andmaintained in assembled relation by reason of the su erior transversedimension of a portion of t e body part 11 relative to the correspondingdimension of the front .end of the enlarged aperture portion 20. Theclosure is, in the present instance, provided with grooves 37 and 38 onopposite sides which cooperate with grooves 39 and 40 which extendthrough the shoulder 21 of the body member, to receive the contactprongs. The grooves 39 and 40 in the body member are in effectcontinuations of the recesses 24 and 25 of the body member. The plugthus serves to close the grooves or recesses 39 and 40 and to cooperatetherewith in positioning the re.-

spective prongs. The plug is also preferably provided with recesses 41and 42 which receive the heads of the bindin screws 30 and 31 whichproject inwardly rom the inner faces of the contact prongs 12 and 13.The body member 10 may also be recessed as indicated at 43 and 44 toreceive the outer ends of the binding post screws 30 and 31. A rib orfin 45 depending from the bottom of the closure lug 11 is provided forseparating the con uctors as best shown in Fig. 2. Recesses 46 and 47are provided in the seat 18 of the plug to receive the opposite ends ofthe rib so that the conductors cannot work ast the ends of the rib, andthereby possi- Ely contact with each other within the connecter plugbody.

It will be apparent that the closure plug 11 may be seated in theenlarged portion 17 of the aperture inthe body member because of thefact that the body member is, as above noted, formed of resilientmaterialsuch as rubber. Accordin to the present invention, I refer tomake tie closure plug 11 alsoof ru her so that both' the closure andbody por-.

tion are relatively distortable and assembling of the two parts isthereby facilitated. Obviously either part alone might be made ofresilient or distortable material, while the other part is of firm orhard material. When the closure plug 11 is assembled or interlocked withthe body member, it will be understood that the closure plug will notreadily come out of its place. The contact prongs 12'and 13 areincidentally locked in place, that is, held against withdrawal from theplug because of the seating of the heads 30 and 31 of the binding postscrews in the recesses 41 and 42 of the closure plug.

It will be observed that the two parts 10 and 11 when assembled,constitute a housing for the connection between the conductors and theprongs. The recesses in part 10 or the recesses in part 11, dependingupon the method of assembly, serve to initially osition the pron s priorto the assembly 0 the two parts of t e housing.

'I am aware that changes may be made in the form construction andproportion of parts used in constructing a plug according to myinvention without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scopeof which.

should be determined by reference to the following claims which I desireto have construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state ofthe art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess in thefront end of said body member, said recess being spaced radiallyoutwardly and separated fromsaid aperture by a portion of the bodymember, a contact prong having its inner end portion seated in saidrecess, and its outer end portion projecting outwardly from the frontend of the body member, a

conductor disposed in said aperture and connected to said contact prongand a closure member for the front end of said aperture,

serving with the body member to enclose the Ill) connection between theconductor and prong,

said closure member having interlocking engagement with the body memberand said body member and closure member being relatively distortible soas topermit such inter locking parts to be so assembled.

2. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess in thefront end of the body member, said recess extending longitudinally ofthe bodv member and being spaced radially outwardly and separated fromsaid aperture by a portion of the body member, a substantially straightcontact prong having its inner end portion seated in said recess and itsouter end portion projecting outwardly beyond the rent end of the bodymember, an electric conductor extending thorugh said. aperture andhaving its inner end connected to said' contact prong, a closure memberinterlocked with said body member for closing the front end of saidaperture, serving with said body member to enclose the connectionbetween the conductor and prong, said closure member and body memberbeing relatively distortible'so as to permit said'interlockmg parts tobe so assembled. I v a 3. In a connecter of the class described, thecombination of a body member having an being spaced radially outwardlyand sepa-' rated from said aperture by a portion of the body member, acontact pron having its in nor end portion seated in sai recess, and itsouter end portion projecting outwardly from the front end of the bodymember, a conductor disposed in said aperture, and connected to saidcontact prong, and a closure member for the front end of said aperture,secured to said body member and serving with the latterto enclose theconnectioii" between said conductor and contact prong.

4. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember having an aperture extending therethrough and a recess extendingsubstantially parallel with said aperture and openin to the front end ofsaid body member, said recess being separated from the aperture in thebody member by 'a portion of the latter, a contact prong having itsinner end portion-seated in said recess, a conductor disposed in saidaperture, means projecting from the contact prong for connecting theforward end of said conductor to said contact prong, and a closure forthe front end of said aperture, said closure being secured to said bodymember and provided-with a recess for receiving said connecting meansand thereby serving to prevent endwise'displacement of the contactprong.

5. n a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember of resilient insulating material, said body member having anaperture extending therethrough and a forwardly opening recess in itsfront end portion, said. recessextending lengthwise of the body memberand being separated from said aperture by a portion of said body memberintermediate the recess and aperture, a contact prong having its innerend portion removably seated in said recess and having its outer endportion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, aconductor disposed in said aperture and connectedto said contact prong,and'means interlocked with said body member, serving to preventdisplacement of said contact prong.

6. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember having an aperture extending .therethrough, the front end portionof said body member being provided with an undercut annular shouldersubstantially concentric with the front end of said aperture, and saidbody member also being rovided with a recess disposed substantia lyparallel with said aperture, opening towards the front end of the bodymember, and separted from the aperture by a portion of the body memberdisposed intermediate the recess and aperture, a contact prong havingits inner, end portiondisposed in said recess and its outer end portionprojecting outwardly from the front end of the body member, a conductordisposed in said aperture and connected to said prong, and a closure forthe front end of said aperture interlocked with said undercut annularshoulder, said body member and closure being relatively distortible andthereby permitting said interlocked parts to be assembled.

7. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a bodymember havin an aperture extending therethrough, the ront end portion ofsaid body member being provided with an undercut annular shouldersubstantially concentric with the front end of said aperture, and saidbody member also being provided with a recess disposed substan-' tiallyparallel with said aperture, opening towards the front end of the bodymember, and a separated from the aperture by a portion of the bodymember disposed intermediate the recess and aperture, a contact pronghaving its inner end portion disposed in said recess and its outer endportion projecting outwardly from the front end of the body member,faconductor disposed in said aperture, means projecting radially inwardlyfrom said contact prong for connecting the front end of said conductorto said contact prong, and a closure for the front end of said apertureinterlocked with said undercut annular shoulder and provided with arecess for receiving said connecting means, thereby locking said contactprong against outward endwise displacement, said body member and closurebeing relatively distortible and thereby permit-ting said interlockedparts to be assemled. 8. In a connecter of the class described, thecombination of a body member having an aperture extending therethrough,an undercut annular shoulder adjacent the front end of the body memberand a forwardly facing annular seat spaced rearwardly from saidshoulder, said bodymember being providedwith a recess extendingsubstantially parallel no i with said aperture and opening forwardlythrough said annular seat, said recess being separated from the apertureby a portion of. the body member disposed intermediate said aperture andrecess, a contact prong having its inner end portion seated insaid'recess and its outer portion projecting forwardly ,from the frontend of said body member, a

conductor disposed in said aperture and having its front end connectedto said cont-act prong, a closure for the front end of said aperturecomprising a member adapted to be seated on said outwardly facing seatand interlocked with said undercut shoulder, the latter being efi'ectiveto maintain the closure seated on said annular seat and said closure andbody member being relatively distortible so as to permit saidinterlocked parts to be SO assembled.

lie

9. In a connecter of the class described the combination of a bodymember of resilient insulating material, said body member having anaperture extending therethrough and a pair of diametrically oppositelydisposed re cesses adjacent the front end of the body member and spacedradially outwardly from said aperture, a relatively thin wall ofmaterial being disposed intermediate eac the same, the adjacent endsof'the conductors of sa-id duplex cord being respectively connected tosaid contact prongs, and a closure J for the front end of said aperture,interlocked with said bodymember and serving with said body member toenclose the connections between said conductors and contact prongs.

walls so as to support bodyh opening on opposite sides thereof forreceiving inner end portions of said contact prongs, said body partscooperating to maintain said prongs in operative position.

12. In a connecter' of the class described, the combination of a bodymember of resil ient insulating material, said body, member aving anaperture extending therethrou h and a pair of diametrically, oppositelydlsposed recessesspaced rearwardly from the front end of the body memberand spaced laterally outwardly from said aperture, contact prongs havinginner end portions respectively seated in said recesses, and outer endportions projecting forwardly from the front end of the body member, aduplex conductor 'cord disposed in said aperture and having its frontends connected to said contact 10. In a connector of the classdescribed,

the combination of a body member having an aperture extendingtherethrough, an undercut annuular shoulder adjacent the front end ofthe body member and a forwardly recesses adjacent the from the front endof the bod contact to maintain such I assembly an 3 body being providedwit an 0 and receiving a duplex electric facing seat spaced rearwardlyfrom said shoulder, said body beingprovided with a pair of diametricallyoppositely disposed front end of thebody member and aperture, contactprongs having inner end portions respectively seated in said recess andouter end portions-projecting forwardly y membe pair of conductorsdisposed in said aperture and having their front ends respectivelconspaced outwardly from -said said prongs, and a closure for thefrontend of aperture, interlocked with said body member and servingtherewith to enclose the connection between said conductors and contactprongs.

' HUGO .H. WERMINE; I no 'r, a I

nected to said-contact prongs within the body member,

and a, closure for the; front end'of said aperture, seated on saidoutward- 1y facing seat and interlocked with said annular shoulder, saidclosure being provided Witha 'fin extending inwardly therefrom forpreventing contacting of the front ends of the respective conductors,and said body member being provided 'with o positely disposed recessesopening to sai seat for receiving opposite end portions of said fin, I.11. Anelectric plug connecter comprisin a body and a pair ofindependent, space" prongs projecting from the front end of said body,said body including'a plurality of independent parts, one of which is anouter member formed of resilient, substantially" non-breakable,insulating material, and ar-" ranged to interlockwith another body partthe resilient art disassembl of said parts, said pening fitting and withseats spaced radially from said parts in assembled relation, eingdistortible to permit conductor

